Recipe: MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf

Feb 27, 2017 | 4 comments

Who says y’all have to be in New Orleans to celebrate Fat Tuesday?

MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf

Y’all know my love for all things NOLA, right? The food, the parties, the spices, the food. Oh, did I say that already? C’mon. You know it’s worth mentioning again.

“It’s all about the food.
It’s always all about the food.”
~Rain [NOLA]

And y’all know my two favorite food companies are Zatarain’s and Winco, right?

And since tomorrow’s the end of this year’s Mardi Gras, as promised here’s this month’s meatloaf recipe. What makes it all that? The Holy Trinity of New Orleans cuisine, and Zatarain’s Creole seasoning.

I’m crazy about Zatarain’s. Remember when Bedford Manor celebrated our five year housewarming, and the Big Z supplied the side dishes? [Read: NOLA, Zatarain’s Style.] Now that was a party. Of course I keep as much Zatarain’s in the pantry as I can, especially the seasonings.

So. You ready to get your flavor on? Then let’s head into the kitchen.

First, grab your gear: Eight simple ingredients, a mixing bowl, cutting board and knife, and meatloaf pan.

MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf ingredients

What, you ask, is the Holy Trinity? Only the best cooking base New Orleans has to offer. A blend of equal parts green pepper, onion, and celery.

NOLA FOOD HACK:
Add two (or more) dashes of
Creole seasoning to the
Holy Trinity during saute’.

MoJo Creole Meatloaf: Holy Trinity

Is your mouth watering yet? Are you needing the recipe like your sugar needs tea? Hold onto your Mojo bag, ’cause here it is.

Recipe: MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef
Milk
1 egg
12 saltine cracker squares
New Orleans Holy Trinity (apprx 1/2 small white onion, 1 celery stalk, 1/3 bell pepper)
Zatarain's Creole Seasoning

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.
Crush crackers into small bowl. Add just enough milk to cover. Set aside.
Dice onion, celery, bell pepper. Saute on low until tender. Remove from heat. [Holy Trinity should equal apprx 1/2 cup when done.]
In large mixing bowl, add ground beef, egg, crackers, Holy Trinity, and 1 tsp Creole seasonings. Mix thoroughly.
Shape into loaf pan. Top with 1/2 tsp Creole seasonings.
Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes.

http://franklymydearmojo.com/2017/02/27/recipe-mojos-creole-meatloaf/

NOLA FOOD HACK:
Saute twice as much Holy Trinity
as your recipe calls for,
and keep the extra in an airtight container
in your fridge. It’s a great addition
to chicken salad, sandwiches,
and on its own.

Serve it up with some collared greens, corn bread, white wine and all the beads you can hang ’round your neck.

Mardi Gras at Bedford Manor

CLICK TO TWEET: Frankly, My Dear . . .: Recipe: MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf

CLICK TO TWEET: Who say you to have to be in New Orleans to celebrate Fat Tuesday?

With a Mardi Gras mask and Hurricane in hand,

Happy Eating!
~Molly Jo

And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!

[DISCLAIMER: Any outside product or company referenced in this recipe is not affiliated with Frankly, My Dear . . ., Molly Jo Realy, New Inklings Press, or The Unemployment Cookbook. I have not been compensated for any mention or reference in this or any other post.]

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Frankly, On Faith: Five Minutes

Feb 26, 2017 | 4 comments

Frankly, on Faith: Five Minutes

by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68

Frankly, On Faith.

God is extravagant. He is Almighty. Eternal. Ultimate. Substantial. He is everything.

He is also personal. Intimate. Up close.

I often shy away from time with God because I can’t give him an hour of focus. Those are precious sixty minutes in which my mind will, after the first few, begin to wander. Plot. Plan. Apologize.

Dear God. I can’t focus. I’m sorry. Let me start over.

And it begins again.

How much time can you spend with God without looking at the clock?

I failed. I’m obviously not a good person because I can’t keep the world from coming in and interfering. You say it takes practice, discipline. But I know I’ll never get there. I’d best not waste our time by even trying.

When my daughter calls, I answer. If she can only speak for a minute, I welcome it. Because she thought enough to check in, say hi, let me know she loves me.

When my cat climbs onto my chair, I let her warm my feet or side for however long she stays. She’s not a failure when she leaves.

So why don’t I believe that God, in His much greater capacity for love and care, would accept whatever time offering I can give Him?

Would He rather I pretend to pray for thirty minutes or more, just counting ticks on the clock while being distracted? Or does He want all of my attention in whatever increments I can give?

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the LORD, and a thousand years is like a day.”
~2 Peter 3:8, NLT

My soul longs to be authentic to, for, and with God. I will give Him what I truly can, and trust He is by my side when the world beckons me to responsibility.

As I spend time with Him, the more opportunities I find to do so. He is a beautiful, never-ending circle. And we are smack dab in the middle of His grip.

CLICK TO TWEET: Frankly, on Faith: Can you give God just five minutes of your time?

With a stopwatch and Heavenly circumference,
~Molly Jo

Frankly, On Faith: Can you give God five minutes?

And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!

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Frankly, On Faith: This is the LORD’s Battle

Feb 19, 2017 | 2 comments

Frankly, On Faith: This is the LORD’s Battle

by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68

Frankly, On Faith.

Ever feel like you’re just not properly equipped to get through life? If only there was more money. If only I had someone to share the load. If only that person was nicer, or this person understood. If only we had more to give, we could give.

“If only.” Two of the most hurtful words in our vocabulary. They take away our incentive and our power. They limit us, hold us back from our potential.

I read the story of David and Goliath recently, and was touched by several key points:

Don’t let how others see you dictate your life.
David was young and small, a gentler person. The soldiers thought he couldn’t do anything. But David was the one who slayed the giant.
Their coping skills are not your own.
Saul dressed David in fine armor, but it didn’t work for David. He chose what he knew: His sling and a few stones.
Keep going in the face of adversity.
His brothers, Saul, and the soldiers told him to stop. But David knew he was on the right path. He kept moving forward. Even when the giant came out to fight him.
Let your faith be your light.
David knew God was with him. When the others tried to stop him, even through misguided protection and concern, David knew what he was doing was his calling. He didn’t doubt it for a second, and he didn’t let others take that from him.
Give God room to work!
David only had his sling. He knew God would throw the stones. And it only took one.

“This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
~1 Samuel 17:47

It’s okay to pick up the weapons God has given you, and take those small steps toward making things better. God is bigger than your giant, and He’ll always guide your stones.